Poorly Known (Yet Powerful) 1947 Florida Hurricane

[Bob Peyton]

I have really been following Syorm2k since its inception. Don't post too much because I usually don't have the expertise to add information. I read and listen very avidly. With Hurricane Katrina there is no doubt that I would have stayed in New Orleans if I would'nt have gotten the latest info from Storm 2k, especially from Derrick Ortt. I was training director for a fantastic company that was partially destroyed by Katrina. The factorh has been badly damaged and has decided to move the plant out of the area I am not following.

At work people continuously askef for info on the storm. It was almost a joke when I said, "Derrick said", This was like saing "God said". He was right so mant times that it was scary. At 1:00 o'clock Friday before Katrina our weather people were still saying she was going to Florida. I left a noto on the sales managers desk saying, "Derrick said the hurricana was coming in at 90 degrees by 89.6 and it would be a cat. 4 or 5. We old timers have always prided ourselves on saying "I survived Hurricane Betsy. I have never run away from a storm" After Derrick's warning i advised my family, "We are going on a camping trip. look over your room and take anything that is of value that you would not like to lose. We may be be back in a day, a week, a month or we might not be back at all. All five of us did just that and filled two autos with our treasured posessions.

One of my sons stayed behind during Katrina and as the water was rising in the house he saved all of our furnityre, About 15 months ago my oldest son passed away and left about six boxes of science fiction books. David and his friends proceeded to jack all of the furniture up and put in on the books. When we returned three weeks later David had already taken out all of the carpets,and sheetrock and sprayed to kill the mildew.

So if you talk to Derrick tell him that his factual, down to earth hard hitting advice is followed even by old hard headed Betsy survivors.

Bob Peyton

[weatherwindow]

some amazing stats on the great hurricane of 1947...largest storm to landfall fla since 1851(per jim lushine nws/mia): sustained hurricane force winds from carysfort reef light(south of key largo) to cape canaveral, winds >100mph from hallandale beach to west palm beach(70mi), tropical storm force winds from the north coast of cuba to flager beach, south of jacksonville....still holds the record for the highest MEASURED sustained winds experienced in florida: 155 mph at the hillsboro light(just north of pompano beach).. .......rich

[EDR1222]

There is some good information about the '47 Hurricane in "Florida''s Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes. It discusses just what your talking about regarding a large part of Florida that experienced Hurricane conditions from this Hurricane. Definately an impressive storm!

[bill streeter]

Hi,

I'm not a regular on these forums but I was searching for information on this storm after hearing a news flash about it on a recording of an old time radio show. So I thought that I would share this with you since it's generated a bit of discussion here. It's from September 18, 1947 and the news flash was from NBC. You can hear the entire program here. It's right at the beginning of the program. I dunno I thought someone here might find it interesting.

[Ixolib]

Hi,

I'm not a regular on these forums but I was searching for information on this storm after hearing a news flash about it on a recording of an old time radio show. So I thought that I would share this with you since it's generated a bit of discussion here. It's from September 18, 1947 and the news flash was from NBC. You can hear the entire program here. It's right at the beginning of the program. I dunno I thought someone here might find it interesting.

Thanks, Bill - that is in fact kinda neat to listen to. Interesting too how not much has changed in 60 years in terms of the sense of urgency in the announcers voice. The same sense of urgency - perhaps now called hype - still exists today...

Welcome to S2K!!

[Patrick99]

All I know is, a similar storm, on that track, obliterates a large part of South Florida and adds great insult to injury in New Orleans. That would be a tough track, if it happened today.

[Jim Cantore]

Well if thats the case the pressure should be lower.

Actually, contrary to popular belief, the 1947 Fort Lauderdale (or Pompano Beach) Hurricane did not make a direct landfall on Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or even Pompano Beach. The actual eye made landfall in southeastern Palm Beach County directly on Boca Raton. No pressure readings were taken in that area, so the lowest pressure in the eye's center was likely not found. The lowest recorded pressure was taken further south in Fort Lauderdale, were 947 millibars was reported. Take in the fact that the storm was very large in size. The lowest pressure was likely closer to 940 millibars, lower than that which was recorded.

If it was 155mph its pressure would have had to been in the low 930s at the highest if it was that large, however, it may have been weaker

[MiamiensisWx]

Hurricane Floyd, I agree. I think the real sustained winds at landfall were closer to 130MPH to 135MPH at highest. Also, I think it peaked at Category Four status north of the Bahamas, not at Category Five status like records show. Do you agree?

[boca]

Hurricane Floyd, I agree. I think the real sustained winds at landfall were closer to 130MPH to 135MPH at highest. Also, I think it peaked at Category Four status north of the Bahamas, not at Category Five status like records show. Do you agree?

I agree I think in 1947 the equipment they used is not as sophisicated as now.

[Bocadude85]

Actually I would tend to think that the 1947 hurricane was a high end cat 4 at landfall. a one minute max windspeed of 155mph was measured at the Pompano beach light house, though the recording was taken from an elevated spot, Pompano wouldnt have been in the northern eyewall if the center made landfall in Boca Raton. Also ive tended to notice that the larger storms have a harder time getting their top susatined winds to the surface so for a recording of 155mph to have happened I would tend to think the storm was in the upper ranges of a cat 4... just my opinion though